Page 243 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

included 5,000 blankets, 370 tents, 5 tons of plastic sheets and 12 tons of medicine. A third
consignment of medicine and relief material was also sent shortly afterwards by train. India also
pledged $25 million as aid to Pakistan. India opened the first of three points at Chakan Da Bagh, in
Poonch, on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for the 2005 Kashmir earthquake

relief work. Such generous gestures signalled a new age in confidence, friendliness and cooperation
between both India and Pakistan.

INDO-CHINA RELATIONS

Sino-Indian relations, also called Indo-China relations, refers to the bilateral relationship between
the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of India. China and India are the world’s
most populous countries and also fastest growing major economies. The resultant growth in China and
India’s global diplomatic and economic influence has also increased the significance of their bilateral

relationship.

China and India are two of the world’s oldest civilizations and have coexisted in peace for
millennia. Cultural and economic relations between China and India date back to ancient times. The
Silk Road not only served as a major trade route between India and China, but is also credited for
facilitating the spread of Buddhism from India to East Asia. During the 19th century, China’s growing
opium trade with the British Raj triggered the Opium Wars. During World War II, India and China
played a crucial role in halting the progress of imperial Japan.

Relations between contemporary China and India have been characterized by border disputes,

resulting in three major military conflicts – the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Chola incident in 1967,
and the 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish. However, since late 1980s, both countries have successfully
attempted to reignite diplomatic and economic ties. In 2008, China emerged as the largest trading
partner of India and the two countries have also attempted to extend their strategic and military
relations.

Despite growing economic and strategic ties, several issues continue to strain Sino-Indian
relations. Though bilateral trade has continuously grown, India faces massive trade imbalance heavily
in favour of China. The two countries have failed to resolve their long-standing border dispute and

Indian media outlets repeatedly report Chinese military incursions into Indian territory. Both nations
have steadily built-up military infrastructure along border areas. Additionally, India harbours
suspicions about China’s strong strategic relations with its arch-rival Pakistan while China has
expressed concerns about Indian military and economic activities in disputed South China Sea.

China and India are separated by the formidable geographical obstacles of the Himalayan mountain
chain. China and India today share a border along the Himalayas and Nepal and Bhutan, two states

lying along the Himalaya range, and acting as buffer states. In addition, the disputed Kashmir
province of India (claimed by Pakistan) borders both the PRC and India. As Pakistan has tense
relations with India, Kashmir’s state of unrest serves as a natural ally to the PRC.

Two territories are currently disputed between the People’s Republic of China and India: Aksai
Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh is located near the far east of India, while Aksai